Temporal and spatial variability of zoobenthos recruitment in a north-east Atlantic marine reserve

Abstract

3 Skomer Marine Nature Reserve, Countryside Council for Wales, Fishermans Cottage, Martins Haven, Haverfordwest, Pembrokeshire SA62 3BJ, UKSubmerged artificial surface imitates newly available habitat for settlement of marine fauna. It also enables study of the timing of benthic larval settlement. Such knowledge is important if the model of possible recovery after disturbance in protected areas is to be assessed. During this study recruitment of sessile benthic invertebrate fauna at spatial and temporal scales was investigated using artificial panels submerged in the Skomer Marine Nature Reserve (Wales, UK). Panels were exchanged monthly between May 2009 and September 2011 (with the exclusion of winter time). Recruitment was highly variable with regard to time and distribution; abundance and number of recruiting species varied significantly between sites (about 2 km apart from each other), depths (6 and 12 m), position on panels (top or underside) and years without any obvious trends. The highest number of individuals and highest values of species richness were at Bernies Rocks, at the greater depth and on the underside surface of panels. Bryozoans were the dominant taxon on panels in each studied year and month. Most macrofaunal species noted on panels exhibit a colonial life strategy with short-lived, non-feeding larval stage. Although many species settle all year round, levels of settlement usually peak in summer months, showing a seasonal recruitment pattern (Bugula fulva, Spirobranchus triqueter, Chorizopora brongniarti and Escharoides coccinea). Some species had a pronounced settlement peak in spring (e.g. Electra pilosa and Balanus crenatus).

Diversity of Bugulidae (Bryozoa, Cheilostomata) colonizing artificial substrates in the Madeira Archipelago (NE Atlantic Ocean)

“…Also, [84,85] found this species in Belgian waters colonizing plastic debris. Ronowicz, Kukliński [80] found this species as a component fouling assemblages during summer settlement experiments. Hayward and Ryland [63] also recorded this species in the West Atlantic coast from Maine to Brazil.…”

“…Bugulina fulva was first described from the England Coast [47] occurring in natural (holdfast of Laminaria and boulders) and artificial substrates, appearing during summer in England and Wales [63,80]. After being described, Bugulina fulva was recorded from different parts of the world.…”

Design and implementation of two surveys targeted at describing fouling communities and identifying non-native species within active ports

“…Colonization to over 90% coverage took only 2 months for the sides of tiles facing the water column. Colonization during this time period (May to July) was expected as this coincides with the annual phase of benthic larval settlement, although the process can be highly variable (Keough, 1983; Ronowicz et al ., 2014). Colonization rates were comparable to those observed in a similar study conducted in marinas in North Wales (Bangor University, 2015), even though the study focused on individual species and did not record overall coverage.…”

“…Previous methodologies for the study of fouling communities in ports describe the use of rapid assessment surveys (RAS; Cohen et al ., 2005; Arenas et al ., 2006; Rohde et al ., 2017), settlement surveys (Tyrrell & Byers, 2007; Floerl et al ., 2012; Ronowicz et al ., 2014) or a combination of the two (HELCOM, 2013; Cook et al ., 2015; Hurst, 2016). The SSS described in this study is a development of more conventional settlement surveys whilst the MMS is, in effect, an adaptation of a RAS, whereby materials are assembled and deployed rather than using materials that already exist in the port.…”

“…When discussing the effectiveness of each survey type designed for this study, the success of overcoming specific challenges of surveying within active ports must be considered, as well as the effectiveness of identifying species (both native and non-native), the quality of data provided and some of the more logistical aspects such as cost and level of required expertise. Previous methodologies for the study of fouling communities in ports describe the use of rapid assessment surveys (RAS; Cohen et al, 2005;Arenas et al, 2006;Rohde et al, 2017), settlement surveys (Tyrrell & Byers, 2007;Floerl et al, 2012;Ronowicz et al, 2014) or a combination of the two (HELCOM, 2013;Cook et al, 2015;Hurst, 2016). The SSS described in this study is a development of more conventional settlement surveys whilst the MMS is, in effect, an adaptation of a RAS, whereby materials are assembled and deployed rather than using materials that already exist in the port.…”